Central Valley Birds

·       The American Kestrel is suffering widespread declines in North America. Lowell Young and Ed Pandolfino provide insights from a transect surveyed for 17 years in Merced and Mariposa counties, including reporting an increase that contrasts with declines on surrounding lands.

·       Placing nest boxes in pairs is widely advocated to reduce competition by other species with bluebirds, but little research has been done to see if it helps Western Bluebirds. Dan Airola and colleagues evaluate whether pairing nest boxes along the American River benefited bluebirds, compared to boxes places separately, and box use patterns by other box-using species. The results challenge the prevailing recommendations.

·       Our Notes from the Field reports on unusual bird behaviors, including Western Bluebirds feeding lizards to fledglings, flycatching by Loggerhead Shrikes, and shrikes caching large numbers of voles when prey numbers exploded.

·       Also see Seasonal Highlights from summer 2024, an appeal for members to participate in the new California Breeding Bird Atlas, and reports from the symposium and our new President.

Cover Photo: Immature male Costa's Hummingbird (Calype costae). 12 July 2024.  Wilton, Sacramento County, California.

Photo by Linda Pittman.